258 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
THE CROPS OF 1878. 
The winter of 187778 was more favorable to cereals planted in the 
fall than its predecessor, and the aggregate secured this year is greater . 
_ than in any previous year. 
Wheat, which promised so high an average in May, was much affected 
in the Northwestern States by the heat and drought of June and July. 
It was less affected in those States where it was fall-planted. The in- 
crease of acreage over that of 1877 amounted to nearly 25 per cent., and 
more than counterbalanced the loss resulting from antavor able weather 
in the Northwest. The crop of 1878 reached 420,122,000 bushels. 
Corn.—The acreage of corn this year was not materially changed from 
that of last year. While there was a slight decrease in the great corn- 
producing States of the Ohio Valley, there was a corresponding inerease 
in the Southern States and those west of the Mississippi River. The 
cultivated area of last year was somewhat exceeded this year. The heat 
of July tended rather to increase than diminish the crop; insects did 
but little damage, and the only injury it sustained was from the pro- 
tracted drought of midsummer, 
The product in ihe States of Kentucky, Ulinois, Missouri, and Kansas 
shows a decline; in almost all the other corn- “producing States there 
was an increase of yield, thus making a crop cf 1,388,218,000 bushels, 
being an excess over the crop of 1877 of about 45, ‘000, ‘000 bushels. 
This is the more remarkable as it is the fourth of an unbroken series of 
large crops. 
Cotten.—-An estimated increase of acreage for the cotton belt of nearly 
2 per cent. was returued for this year. The average condition of the 
erop during its growth was better than last year, and the weather for 
maturing and picking was as favorable as could be desired. Complaints 
of injuries from insects, rust, or blight were less than usual, and, except 
in small portions of the States of. Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia, 
were unimportant. The resuit of this has been a larger crop than the 
great one of 1877, being 5,200,000 bales of 450 pounds each for this year. 
As was to have been expected, in the presence of two successive crops 
of such magnitude, the price has fallen to near 9cents per pound against 
11 cents in 1877, the crop netting the country some $20,000,000 less than 
that of 1877. 
Tobacco.—The acreage for 1878 was 76 per cent. of that of 1877. The 
quality of tobacco produced was generally heavier and better , aking 
the yield per acre rather more than the previous year, except in Ken- 
tuecky, where it fell off slightly. The crop of 1878 is estimated at 
393,000,000 pounds. 
Oats. The oat crop is somewhat in excess of the very large crop of 
1877. The inerease of product, however, is less than the increase of 
acreage, showing that the yield per acre, on the whole, is less than last 
year. The Atlantic slope, north of the Chesape ake, showed a decline ; 
the Seuthern coast States uniformly increased their yield; the Western, 
Northwestern, and Pacific States show a marked increase. ‘The total 
product reached 413,000,000 bushels. 
Barley.—There is no material change in the barley crop for the year 
1878, compared with that of 1877, except the great product of Cali- 
fornia, which will be double its predecessor. The large producing 
States of New York, Wisconsin, and Hlinois each show a decrease in the 
number of acres sown, and a slight decrease ip the yield per acre; while 
Michigan, Kansas, and Minnesota show an increase in both acreage 
and yield. 
